Winter tales | skzbinnie

♡•°.☽︎ Unexpected guest ☽︎.°•♡︎

¡¡Ship: Jeongbin!!

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Jeongin shivered. The cold evening air penetrated his thin attire making his body more and more numb. Discarding his thick black velvet cloak wasn't the best idea given the time of the year but the prince couldn't risk getting tracked by the royal guards and golden-embroidered outerwear would undoubtedly give out his identity.

He still had his expensive dress shirt and high-waisted pants made from the finest material but thanks to forest dirt they didn't stand out that much.

The prince blew out a hot puff of air onto his stiff hands. He had been wandering around the forest for a few hours with no food or water. He was sure the tree area had to end somewhere but he couldn't reach it.

Why did he run away from the comfort of his palace?

He had had enough of his parents' control over every smallest aspect of his life. He was young indeed, only nineteen springs, but he couldn't sit back and watch as his mother and father planned his life without considering his opinion.

He could agree to some of their drolleries but not to getting married to a complete stranger just because she was of the same status as him and it was beneficial from the perspective of the kingdom's politics.

Jeongin ran his cold fingers through his light crystal blond hair and clenched his jaw. He had to get through it and find a place where he could rest for the night.

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Changbin whined as a piece of brushwood he had collected fell from his hands. He picked it up with great difficulty and sighed looking at the pile in his arms.

"I think it's enough to keep the hut warm for the night," he decided and turned in the direction he came from.

Suddenly, he heard a loud thud somewhere not far away from him. Changbin was a scaredy-cat but he also didn't think clearly in situations like that. It was a dark winter evening and he was alone in the forest with only a few dry branches to defend himself yet the first thing that came to his mind was that someone or something might have been hurt and needed help.

He left the brushwood by a tree and rushed towards the sound. Not long after, he saw a beautiful boy laying unconscious on the snow. He had to help.

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Jeongin woke up covered by a warm duvet. The feeling was so delightful his eyes didn't want to stay open but he remembered he was in the cold forest and there was no warm duvet or soft bed. He sat up in a panic but instantly hit something or more like... someone?

Wincing from the harsh contact, the stranger held his head. He had dark slightly wavy hair, honey-like skin, and a slim silhouette. His rosy plump lips crooked in a grimace.

He was beautiful. Jeongin had never seen a beauty like the boy. No princess he had ever met could be compared to him.

Enthralled, he stared at the stranger. Changbin massaged his forehead and lifted his eyes to meet the blond's gaze. It was so intense and scrutinizing his cheeks turned as red as apples.

"H-how do you feel? Are you in pain s-somewhere?" he stuttered shyly.

Jeongin blinked. "I'm-" he tried to form a coherent sentence looking at the beautiful boy, "I'm fine... thanks to you."

Changbin let out a small sigh of relief and graced the blond with a smile.

"My name is Changbin. I was picking brushwood in the forest when I found you. My father helped me to bring you to our hut," the boy explained.

The corners of Jeongin's mouth turned upwards unconsciously in a small smile.

"I'm Jeo-" he bit his tongue. He couldn't risk being recognized by the family who helped him and being found by the royal guards. "I'm Injeong. Thank you for saving me."

The boy looked as he wanted to ask something but he bit his lip and masked it with a smile. "It's nice to meet you. Would you like to eat Christmas dinner with us? We prepared enough food to share with you. Mother said you are invited," he proposed with excitement sparkling in his dark orbs.

"May I?" Jeongin hesitated. He didn't want to be a burden. One side of him wanted to accept the offer because he had nowhere to go but the other felt bad for spoiling their family dinner on a special occasion like Christmas Eve.

The beautiful boy took his hand in his own smaller one and dragged him to the day area of the hut where his parents waited by the table laid with delicious-looking food.

"Uh-" the prince tried to speak but he was cut off by Changbin's mother.

"We're happy to see you safe and sound. Please, feel invited to eat with us. Maybe it's not much but I hope you'll enjoy it," she beamed.

Jeongin's heart filled with warmth and serenity: something he had never felt with his own family. Was it because the beautiful boy was still holding onto his wrist or the hospitality of his parents, he didn't know.

One thing he knew, it was the best Christmas he ever had.

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Merry Christmas, my dear snowflakes! I wish you a lovely time with your beloved. Sometimes family dinners can be unpleasant if your family is not as loving and supportive as it should be but I hope you will enjoy the time nevertheless whether just for food or anything else you find enjoyable about Christmas.

Since it's almost the new year, I want you to know that you did great this year. You are wonderful. Give yourself a break and have a good rest.

I love you. ❣☃❄